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Triumph Tiger 900 GT and Rally

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woodsguy said:
I understand the thinking of the 170# rider on proper dirt bikes, I always wondered about the big adv bikes and the need of this. I mean they're set up to be ridden double and packed down. Surely it is intended to carry more than 170. The 850 seems to be ok and it gets ridden pretty hard on dirt roads ect. Without spending a ton of money I'll never know! And right now I can't waste that much money. Of course I'm not at max on back either.
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I think the big ADV bikes are worse. Most riders would never take them off road or packed down with camping gear. It seems Honda made the Twin super cushy for my 200# frame and 200# of camping gear :rider:
 
Update, I put some Anakee Wilds front and back on my Rally Pro. Also adjusted the suspension closer to manual specs for off road. I took it out to my local dirt testing grounds and it passed with flying colors.

The stability issues I had with the other tires are gone and now I'm able to get through there around the same pace I used to do on my 790 R. With these 50/50 tires, the bike is performing just like the 790 R for me on these roads. I'm pretty stoked about that.

Bad news, I had the wheel checked for trueness, round and balance and all were good. I got my third different model front tire installed and the 45 mph hop is worse than before. It seems the knobby tires exacerbate it even more than the stock tires do.

But if that's my only issue with the bike, I'm good with it. One day I'm going to get the suspension done for my weight as well.
 
Jarrett said:
Update, I put some Anakee Wilds front and back on my Rally Pro. Also adjusted the suspension closer to manual specs for off road. I took it out to my local dirt testing grounds and it passed with flying colors.

The stability issues I had with the other tires are gone and now I'm able to get through there around the same pace I used to do on my 790 R. With these 50/50 tires, the bike is performing just like the 790 R for me on these roads. I'm pretty stoked about that.

Bad news, I had the wheel checked for trueness, round and balance and all were good. I got my third different model front tire installed and the 45 mph hop is worse than before. It seems the knobby tires exacerbate it even more than the stock tires do.

But if that's my only issue with the bike, I'm good with it. One day I'm going to get the suspension done for my weight as well.
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What is with the triumph front wheel hop? I read about this on Advrider, happens between 50 and 60 mph?

I think it is just on the 900 correct?
 
Checking for laden sag is the most important part of suspension adjustment. It will be difficult to know if things are set up correctly without this being established. The odds are pretty good that most riders are not the ideal weight for the OEM springs. Put in the correct springs for the load (rider, gear, stuff you always carry along) and only then start turning the knobs to fine tune things. (other than preload, which, if the sag is close, it might be able to make up the difference)

Laden sag should be somewhere between 25% and 33% of total travel. With the wheel off the ground measure between axle and chassis along the path the axle travels to establish a reference point. (front and rear) Then, with both wheels on the ground (center stand up) get on the bike with gear and stuff while lightly bracing against a wall or something to remain balanced. Bounce it a couple of times, then have someone measure again between those points to determine how much the suspension compresses. Determine what percentage of travel is the difference between those measurements. If the percentage is outside that range, put in the appropriate springs to bring it back into that range.

Better yet, take it to a suspension shop that has enough different springs on hand to try a few things. They can also tune damping to your riding style as well while the bike is there. If you are a spirited rider this is the best money you can spend on an upgrade.
 
I'm hoping to get it in the hands of a specialist next week.

Prob is, the bike is so new, I'm not sure aftermarket springs and such are available yet.
 
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Jarrett said:
I'm hoping to get it in the hands of a specialist next week. Prob is, the bike is so new, I'm not sure aftermarket springs and such are available yet.
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My guess is that the springs and spring rates are standard sizes. Showa wouldn't typically develop new springs and sizes for a new bike. The length of the tubes might be custom to the bike but it will likely use standard springs with spacers to match the length.

Same for the shock.

What might not be available is the knowledge of what size it is. A suspension shop might have to pull the springs and measure their rate on a dyno to know what is there and then order different ones.

As such, they may not be able to pre-order springs before you arrive.
 
Nah, its a fork thing. Same fork/issue as the Africa Twins.

Hoping to get springs changed out next week and will resolve.
 
My buddy with a new 2019 gs850 I mentioned in another thread with the wheel hop issue, dealer found it was a defective front tire.
 
So the bike just starts to hop up and down? When accelerating?
 
Ocho said:
So the bike just starts to hop up and down? When accelerating?
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Nah, its a really specific spot. Lots of folks don't notice it or attribute it to road surface issues. You ride right past it under normal circumstances.

Easiest way to find it is too run to up 50 mph and put the cruise control on, then start dropping in 1 mph increments. At a certain mph, it will gently start to hop like the road has light bumps. If you slow down more, it will stop. Speed up slowly, it comes back.

I've seen it on a few bikes with 21 inch fronts, most notably, the Africa Twin. Based on the quality of roads I ride (crappy) it's a total non issue for me. But there is a guy right now on the Tiger 900 FB page selling his Rally Pro to get a GT Pro because of the issue.
 
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It is a cool bike. I can't wait to see how it is after a tire swap and weight-appropriate suspension. I wish I could have gotten the springs done prior to Arkansas, but that just means I have to go back :)

The handlebar vibration is only if you wring it out and put it into the 6000+ RPM range. Anything shy of that and its fairly smooth feeling.
 
Jarrett said:
It is a cool bike. I can't wait to see how it is after a tire swap and weight-appropriate suspension. I wish I could have gotten the springs done prior to Arkansas, but that just means I have to go back :)

The handlebar vibration is only if you wring it out and put it into the 6000+ RPM range. Anything shy of that and its fairly smooth feeling.
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Heck you need a little vibration, lol. Arkansas should be a blast.
 
All loaded up with new tires headed out the door for Arkansas dirt:

264953
 
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